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  • Title: King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)
  • Editor: Pervez Rizvi
  • Coordinating editor: Michael Best
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-463-9

    Copyright Michael Best. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Pervez Rizvi
    Not Peer Reviewed

    King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

    The History of King Lear.
    1435Deare daughter, I confesse that I am old,
    Age is vnnecessary, on my knees I beg,
    That you'l vouchsafe me rayment, bed and food.
    Reg. Good sir no more, these are vnsightly tricks,
    Returne you to my sister.
    1440Lear. No Regan,
    She hath abated me of halfe my traine,
    Lookt backe vpon me, stroke me with her tongue,
    Most serpent-like vpon the very heart,
    All the stor'd vengeances of heauen fall on her ingratefull top,
    1445Strike her young bones, you taking aires with lamnesse.
    Duke. Fie, fie sir.
    Lear. You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames
    Into her scornfull eies, infect her beauty,
    1450You Fen suckt fogs, drawne by the powerfull Sunne,
    To fall and blast her pride.
    Reg. O the blest Gods, so will you wish on me,
    When the rash mood --------
    Lear. No Regan, thou shalt neuer haue my curse,
    1455The tender hested nature shall not giue thee ore
    To harshnes, her eies are fierce, but thine do comfort & not burn
    Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures, to cut off my traine,
    To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
    1460And in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
    Against my comming in, thou better knowest
    The offices of nature, bond of child-hood,
    Effects of curtesie, dues of gratitude,
    Thy halfe of the kingdome, hast thou not forgot
    1465Wherein I thee endowed.
    Reg. Good sir to the purpose.
    Lear. Who put my man i'th stockes?
    Duke. What trumpets that?

    Enter Steward.
    1470Reg. I know't my sisters, this approues her letters,
    That she would soone be here, is your Lady come?
    Lear. This is a slaue, whose easie borrowed pride
    Dwels
    E3